38th Escalada a Montjuic - 1.S

Spain, October 21, 2001

Rodriguez ascends to the top in Barcelona

ONCE has finished the season with a win, with 22 year old neo-pro Joaquin Rodriguez
taking the 38th edition of the Escalada a Montjuic. Rodriguez won the first
stage, a 24.3 kilometre road race to the top of Barcelona's famous mountain,
and followed it up with a second place in the 8.7 kilometre mountain time trial
in the afternoon to win the overall classification by 15 seconds from his teammate
Joseba Beloki. Kelme's Oscar Sevilla won the time trial and finished third in
the overall classification.

"I did not hope to win today with so many important names in the race," said
a delighted Rodriguez afterwards. "It was the end of an incredible season and
it is a dream winning here where only the chosen ones do so."

Rodriguez is familiar with this race, having won it as an U23 rider and a
cadet in past years. He gave credit to his teammate Beloki, who helped him in
the first stage which he won solo. Surprisingly, Rodriguez is the first Spanish
winner of this race since Marino Lejarreta won in 1990.

World Champion Oscar Freire was in attendance, finishing 14th overall after
travelling back from Italy the night before.